Social Worker

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. United States citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA policy. Education: Master’s degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master’s degree. Verify the degree by visiting to confirm that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for an MSW. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS‑0185 series must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to English language proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). May qualify based on the grandfathering provision described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who meet the criteria). The standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards applies. Consider all qualification requirements for the title‑series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Employees who do not meet all basic requirements may be reassigned, promoted up to the full performance (journey) level, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation. Employees appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or reappointed until they fully meet the basic requirements. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all basic requirements must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment. Employees who leave the GS‑0185 social work series lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry. Note: Social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers lose the grandfathering protection if they leave the GS‑0185 social work series. They must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment when they return. Grade determinations: Social Worker – GS‑9 (Entry Level). Experience and licensure: none beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities: ability to utilize a Veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors; ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement a treatment plan; ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; judgment and skill in using supportive, problem‑solving, or crisis intervention techniques; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives; fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. Social Worker – GS‑11 (Full Performance Level). Experience and licensure: appointment requires a minimum of one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work–related settings (VA or non‑VA) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level, OR a doctoral degree in social work substituting for the required professional experience. Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities: knowledge of community resources; ability to make appropriate referrals; ability to coordinate services; skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals; knowledge of medical/mental health diagnoses and treatment procedures to formulate a treatment plan; skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities; ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Preferred experience: Working with homeless Veterans or within homeless programs. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected ranges from GS‑9 to GS‑11. Physical requirements: Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to communicable diseases common to the client population. Duties Incumbent is assigned to the VA Medical Center and coordinates services provided to homeless veterans treated in the Health Care for Homeless Veterans program. Recognizes the psychosocial needs and demonstrates knowledge and care appropriate to that population. Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members. Active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines. Provide individual, family, and group counseling as appropriate. Provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate. Coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans. Participate in committee assignments as deemed necessary by the service manager. Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with JCAHO, VA, and medical center policy and procedures. Document social work interventions and activities in the patient’s clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand‑off when transferring patient care. Must have a valid driver’s license without restrictions. Benefits Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm. Recruitment incentive (sign‑on bonus): Not authorized. Permanent change of station (relocation assistance): Not authorized. EDRP authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact View email address on click.appcast.io – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases; higher step rate may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (above minimum rate of the grade). Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time per year (13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. Parental leave: After 12 months of employment – up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child care subsidy: After 60 days of employment – full‑time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a child‑care subsidy up to 25 % of total eligible child‑care costs, up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Available for ad‑hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional statement #: GS‑9: 40136F / GS‑11: 40183F. Permanent change of station (PCS): Not authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs